25mm wide angle lens
Intelligent Auto system
Well finished
Reasonable price
Shots in the dark:
Could do with more creative control
High ISO issues
Images a little soft
Digital photography moves fast - there's a constantly flowing stream of compacts and next-gen models revealed to the market every single month. Which makes it all the more baffling when you're hunting down the right compact camera for your summer holiday snaps. Not to forget the credit crunch either; there's not a huge amount of cash lining many peoples' pockets…
The Camera:
Enter the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35. Replacing yesteryear's FX33 model and now boasting 10.1 megapixels, a 4x optical zoom 25mm wide angle lens and a positive injection of improved usability - is this the ideal holiday compact?
The major clincher is the ultra wide-angle 25-100mm f2.8-5.6 Leica lens. Many people look to shoot landscapes and interiors at the wider end of the scale, rather than at long zoom ranges - and by not overlooking this fact, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 has a unique offering that puts it at the top of its game. In fact, even many top-end compacts fail to rival such a wide angle. In true Leica fashion, the lens quality is pretty top notch too.
Next up is Panasonic's Intelligent Auto (IA) system - essentially a sophisticated auto mode that sets the camera up to capture depending on a number of conditions. For example, if there's a moving subject in frame then the Panasonic FX35 will recognise and ensure a higher shutter speed to freeze the action. In such a situation the ISO may be automatically ramped up to compensate, whereas a still landscape shot will be recognised as such and the settings adjusted suitably. The bottom line is that, for point and shoot photography, such a system is devised to defend against the potential 'mistakes' that can be made; and does it well. The full Intelligent Auto system covers motion detection, face detection (focusing on multiple faces to ensure sharp focus), has an intelligent scene selector (that selects the most appropriate scene type depending on subject matter), whilst intelligent exposure offers compensation for backlit conditions ensuring full exposure throughout the shot. Pretty much every base covered there then!
That's not to mention the MEGA OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) technology added to the FX35's feature-stable. A proven system as used across Panasonic's range - you can expect any drunken wobbly hands in low light conditions to be technologically assisted and for your images to maintain a better sharpness is difficult lighting.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35's layout has a reasonably standard feel - there's a couple of upgrades from the FX33 model, including a 'record/playback' switch on the back for quick transition that helps to avoid unnecessary thumbwheel options. The thumbwheel itself maintains various scene modes, including 720p HD video recording. The main cross pad allows for quick flash, exposure compensation and macro mode adjustments - with the 'Q.MENU' providing a quick set of options on the LCD screen to cover all major adjustments such as ISO and white balance. This control set up is as close to a fault as the Pansonic Lumix DMC-FX35 gets, it could be a little better; though even then barely. Perhaps the next stage will be to add a user-assigned quick access button.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 is a pocketable affair too: not least the price (scout around and you can get the camera at around £180), but it's small and light enough to easily tuck away in a purse or pocket. Finishes come in either matte black or silver, which provide elegant yet discreet options - none of this pink lacquer or snake-skin malarkey.
Battery life is decent, though not amazing. A single battery charge ought to cover 200-220 or so images, including a combination of flash shots.
Images:
Like the previous FX33, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 images are particularly contrasty in good light, with very little fall-off or lens distortions. At 25mm there's some barrel distortion, but as expected from such a focal length. Images are perhaps a little soft and in poorer light lack the contrast that you may want - but this is a common trait of compact cameras.
Image quality is decent across the lower ISO ranges from ISO100-400, but begins to break down at ISO 800 and is really rather distorted by ISO 1600.
ISO: 100
200
400
800
1600
The new improved Venus IV processing engine means that quality is actually an improvement from previous Lumix models - but with a small 1/2.5” sensor deployed at the camera's heart, limited sensor size essentially leads to limited image quality. 10 megapixels provides ample image size though, and for A4 prints and web-based sharing most image quality deficits will go unnoticed.
Autofocus is nice and swift too - there's little delay, the autofocus lamp can be toggled on or off, and there's other excellent features such as fixing the cut-off point of shutter speed. For example, in a poorly lit situation, to avoid image blur, you can fix the shutter to not operate lower than 1/15th of a second. Coupled with MEGA OIS and the smart features, this adds extra assurance of sharp, well exposed images.
Caption: Mega OIS keeps images sharp
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 has a decent macro mode too. Whilst it only works at the wide-angle end of the spectrum, it's possible to shoot objects as close as around 6-7cms from the camera lens. Focus remains sharp enough for satisfaction, and using the quick menu it's possible to reassign the focal points - be that centre spot, 9-area or 3-area strip - to ensure correct focus. It may take a bit of tweaking to get the shot that you're looking for, but it's a darn touch better than many other compact offerings.
Conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 is an excellent compact and a perfect holiday camera. From class-leading ultra wide-angle shots at 25mm with little distortion, to longer zoom shots at 100mm - the range covers the majority of snaps you'd ever need, and image quality's pretty solid throughout.
Intelligent controls and layout are further testament to a camera that you can pick up and master in a very short period of time. Intelligent Auto being easily accessible on the rear thumbwheel is extra icing on an already sweet cake, meaning anyone can shoot with ease - your kids, your gran, possibly even the family cat (possibly).
Shop around and the FX35 is a clear bargain at around £185. If that's a touch too far outside your budget, then look for the slightly older FX33 which, whilst not quite as decent, has dropped to an excellent £120.
Our Verdict
Sensor
10.1 megapixel
LCD monitor
2.5”
Zoom
4x Optical Zoom (25-100mm 35mm equiv.)
Sensitivity
ISO 100-1600
Picture Modes
22 modes, auto, intelligent auto, backlight compensation
720p HD movie recording
White balance
Auto, 4 settings, manual setting
Stabilisation
Yes (MEGA OIS shake reduction)
Continuous shooting
3 frames continuous (not per second)
Storage
SD (50MB internal memory)
Battery
Li-ion rechargeable
Other / Key features
Face recognition
iA (intelligent auto) with motion detection
face detection
intelligent scene selector
intelligent exposure
MEGA OIS shake reduction
12 bit RAW capture
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